A stampede during pandal festivities in Gopalganj, Bihar on Monday claimed the lives of three individuals, including two women and a child, police informed. The incident occurred at the Pandal as people flocked to partake in the festivities. As the crowd gathered, an unfortunate stampede ensued, causing the loss of three lives and several injuries. The precise cause of the stampede is currently under investigation. The magistrate and police force are present at the spot, Gopalganj Police said.
The incident occurred around 8.30 p.m., according to initial reports.
The bodies of the deceased have been moved to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The tragedy unfolded in the vicinity of Railway Station Road under the jurisdiction of Nagar Thana, where the Raja Dal Puja Pandal is located.
District Magistrate Dr. Naval Kishor Chaudhary and Superintendent of Police Swarn Prabhat were among those who personally visited the area. The Superintendent of Police confirmed the three fatalities, adding that the tragic fatalities occurred when a child fell into the crowd and two women rushed to help but could not get up.
Gopalganj District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary told news agency ANI, "There are several pandals in the state as it is Durga Navami today. A child fell due to the crowd at the pandal and two women trying to save him also fell and could not get up...They died while they were being taken to the hospital which was hardly 200 meters away...We are present at the spot and the situation is currently under control..."
In the aftermath of the incident, the order was restored with the presence of police personnel at the scene. Meanwhile, multiple injured individuals were transported to Sadar Hospital in a flurry of emergency response activities. Further details are expected to emerge as the identities of the deceased, including the women said to be in their fifties, were yet to be ascertained at the time of reporting.